NL1023968C2 - Pressure regulator for carbonated beverage container. - Google Patents

Abstract

A container that dispenses a carbonated drink such as beer has a pressure regulator that controls the pressure of the dispensed fluid with a pressurized carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is released to maintain the desired pressure by a pressure regulator that opens a valve when the pressure is too low in the dispensed fluid and closes a valve when the pressure is high enough in the dispensed fluid. The pressure regulator is easily adjusted without the use of a tool during operation by simply rotating the pressure regulator's cap on its threads.

Description

Pressure regulator for carbonated beverage container.

The invention relates to a carbonated beverage container provided with a chamber containing the beverage, a beverage dispensing opening for beverage from the chamber, a pressure medium chamber that is in fluid communication with the pressure medium supply chamber to the chamber, which pressure medium chamber has a has an outlet opening closed by a delivery valve for delivery of pressure means and a pressure control member connected to the delivery valve for operating the delivery valve.

The invention also relates to a pressure control member and a method for filling a container with carbonated drink.

It is known to supply pressure medium, such as CO2, to containers, such as metal containers with whipped cream or cans of beer, by means of a CXV cartridge containing CO2 at high pressure, such as 50 bar and higher. The volume of the CO2 cartridge is relatively small, and when connecting a large part of the CO2 will escape if the connection is not carried out quickly and sealingly. The seals for the high pressure CCV cartridges as well as the pressure regulation thereof are relatively complex. Furthermore, with the known devices there is no possibility for the user to set a control pressure.

Also, from Gebrauchsmusterschrift DE 20115158 UI a beer keg is known in which a pressure medium chamber is formed by a cavity in the keg. A loose dispensing head comprising a pressure regulator can be connected by the user to a beer dispensing valve and to a CCta dispensing valve. When connecting the dispensing head, the pressure medium chamber is connected to the beer chamber in the vessel. The pressure control member is not further specified.

Furthermore, a container for beer is known from NL-A-1019054 in the name of the Applicant, wherein the beer is packaged in a flexible bag, which bag is contained in a rigid plastic container. The container is placed in a dispensing device which is provided with a compressor which is connected to the container to build up pressure in the space between the flexible bag and the rigid outer container. The use of a compressor in the delivery device makes it relatively complex, while the compressor can lead to vibrations and an increased noise level.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for carbonated beverage from which the beverage can be dispensed without application.

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of pressure means to be connected separately, such as a prior art I

known compressor or carbon dioxide bottles. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide a relatively simple pressure control member I

for a container for carbonated beverage, which at relatively low pressure I

5 is effective. It is also an object of the invention to provide an I

pressure regulator which is efficient by machine with the holder for I

carbonated beverage can be connected, in particular in a filling process of the I

container with carbonated beverage, such as in a beer filling line. It is a further I

The object of the invention is to provide a pressure control device which is controlled by the user I

10 is adjustable. I

To this end, the holder according to the invention is characterized in that the I

pressure control member comprises a housing with an end wall, a peripheral wall and a housing I

a piston which is sealingly displaceable along the circumferential wall, wherein between a

end face of the piston and the end wall is an upper housing part

15 and a lower housing part on the piston remote from the end wall

formed that at least partially surrounds the dispensing valve, the piston engaging the I

dispensing valve and wherein the upper housing part of the housing is in fluid communication I

with a reference pressure source. I

The relatively simple pressure regulator according to the invention can be operated on a simple I

Can be coupled to the pressure medium holder in a manner. The pressure medium holder can I

for example, be connected to the holder, for example to a wall of an I

top part, side part or bottom part. Preferably, however, the pressure medium container is included I

in the carbonated beverage room. The pressure control member according to the invention I

is suitable for use at relatively low pressures, lower than 20 bar, preferably I

25 lower than 10 bar. An accurate pressure control of the carbon dioxide gas pressure in the chamber, I

at a few bar overpressure relative to the reference, which for example ambient pressure I

is possible with the pressure regulator according to the invention, without adaptation of I

complex gas seals. I

In one embodiment, a spring element is included between the end wall of I

30 the pressure regulator housing and the piston. This causes a bias on the

pressure relief chamber delivery valve, and the pressure control range of the I

pressure regulator can be easily adjusted by adjusting the I

spring tension. In one embodiment the upper housing part of the I comprises

102396 8 "I

»·. Pressure regulating member a cylindrical wall with a screw thread and a cap which is connected to the cylindrical wall with a complementary screw thread, wherein by displacement of the cap along the cylindrical wall the volume of the upper housing part is variable to adjust the internal pressure in the holder. By moving the hood, a pressure control range can be easily adjusted by the user, and if desired a carbonated beverage such as beer can be tapped from the container at high pressure - with a lot of foaming - or at low pressure without a lot of foaming.

The chamber of the container can be provided with an insertion opening for introducing the pressure medium chamber into the chamber, which insertion opening is provided with a connecting element, the pressure control element comprising a complementary connecting element for attachment to the connecting element of the chamber. The chamber can be provided with an activating member which, upon attachment of the control valve to the chamber, engages the pressure medium chamber, whereby the dispensing valve 15 is pressed against the piston

The pressure control member may form a closure assembly with a beverage dispensing valve, and may be connected to the pressure medium container. After filling the container with beverage, such as on a filling line for beer, the pressure medium container can be arranged therein through the filling opening of the container, and the filling opening can be closed by connecting the closing assembly to the chamber, for example via a liquid-tight screw connection . For this purpose, a tool is preferably used in the filling line to effect such a connection of the closure assembly to the holder that it cannot be detached by a user.

After placing the closing assembly in the filling opening, the holder is ready for use, for instance for placing in a beverage dispensing device as described in NL-A-1019054 in the name of the applicant, but now the compressor in the beverage dispensing device can be dispensed with. After connection of a dispensing line with the beverage dispensing opening, the contents of the container can be dispensed at the desired pressure.

According to a further embodiment of a holder for carbonated beverage, the beverage dispensing opening is closed by a beverage dispensing valve, which beverage dispensing opening is displaced relative to the axis of the container, wherein a dispensing line is provided with a dispensing line transversely to the axis of the container.

Η I

I 4

I outflow part and a part located in the direction of the axis of the holder

I engages the outflow opening, the distance from the center line of beverage dispensing I

I opening is such that in an inactive position, the outflow part within a circumference of I

The holder lies, and in a dispensed position rotated relative to the inactive position, the I

The outlet part protrudes outside the circumference of the holder

I When placed in the transport position, the beverage dispensing line is turned around I

its vertical axis that it lies within the circumference of the container. In this position the I

I container can be easily transported and stored without the risk of I

I damage to the delivery line. By rotation of the beverage dispensing line about its I

Vertical axis, the beverage dispensing line is placed outside the circumference of the container,

so that the beverage therefrom can be dispensed to a glass placed next to the container. I

A suitable container for this embodiment is described, for example, in NL I

I 1016688 in the name of the applicant. I

Some embodiments of a carbonated beverage container will I

15 will be further described by way of example with reference to the attached I

I drawing, hi the drawing shows: I

FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section of a holder and an I

Pressure control device according to the invention, I

FIG. 2 shows a detail of a valve assembly with a pressure control member and I

. Beverage dispensing valve according to the invention, I

FIG. 3 shows a similar valve assembly as FIG. 2, wherein the I

I pressure control member is adjustable, I

FIG. 4 shows a tool for fixing the valve assembly according to I

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 to a carbonated beverage container, and I

FIG. 5 shows a container for carbonated beverage, the I

I beverage dispensing line is rotatable about its vertical axis between one within the circumference of I

The storage / transport position located outside the circumference of the holder

I operational position. I

FIG. 1 shows a container for carbonated beverage 1, such as beer and such as I

I, for example, described in NL-A-1019054. The container can be formed from metal or I

plastic, and can be used in a dispensing device as described in I

I publication mentioned above, but with the compressor for pressurizing I

I the holder can be omitted. In the holder 1 there is a chamber 2 with I

| 1 02396 8 carbonated drink, preferably beer. In the top wall of the holder 1 there is a filling opening 5 through which a pressure medium holder 9 has been introduced into the chamber 2. A valve assembly 7, which is attached to the pressure medium holder 9, is arranged in the filling opening 5 after filling of the chamber 2 and closes off in a liquid-tight manner. The valve assembly 7 has a pressure control member 10 which engages a valve 12 of the container 9, and a beverage dispensing opening 13 which is closed by spring-loaded valve 11. The pressure control member 10 operates a valve 12 of the pressure medium container 9 via which pressure medium, preferably CO2, the space 17 above the beer mirror can flow in. The pressure regulating element comprises a piston 19 which engages the valve 12 and which is connected via opening 21 to the pressurized space 17. The piston is positioned via an opening 24 19 in connection with the environment.

Disposed in the beverage dispensing opening 13 is a dispensing line 27 which is spaced from the axis 29 of the container 1. The riser 1 includes a riser 30 which is connected to the inner side of the dispensing opening 13, below the valve 11. On the bottom of the holder 1 a cam 32 is received as an activating member against which the underside of the pressure medium holder 9 is supported upon attachment of the valve assembly 7 to the upper container wall. As a result, the valve 12 is pressed against the piston 19 of the pressure control member, and the pressure medium holder 9 is activated by opening the dispensing valve 12.

The holder 9 can contain an aerosol container known per se with a spring-loaded valve 12 which can be opened by pressing. The pressure medium holder can comprise active carbon and CO2 as described in NL-A-1012922, in the name of the applicant. The contents of the container can contain between 1 and 50 liters, and in a preferred embodiment are between 3 and 5 liters.

FIG. 2 shows the valve assembly 7, and shows a housing 35 of the pressure control member 10, in which the piston 19 can move up and down sealingly along the inner cylindrical peripheral wall 36 of the housing 35. The valve 12 of the pressure medium holder 9 is received in a lower housing part 37, which is supported with an edge on the upper shoulder 38 of the holder 9. In an upper housing part 39, 30 which is bounded by the cylindrical peripheral wall 36 and an end wall 40 , a spring element 41 for applying a predetermined pressure, via the piston 19, to the valve 12. Via the opening 21 the lower housing part 37 is connected to the space 17 above the beer in the container 1. Via the small throttle opening 24 is 102396 8 '

I

I 6 I

I the upper housing part 39 in connection with the environment, so that there if I

I equilibrium pressure ambient pressure prevails. With variations in the internal pressure in the I

Lower housing part 37 of the pressure control member 10 - such as a rise by I

I temperature increase or a decrease due to an increase in the volume of the I

Space 17 above the beer due to beer dispensing from the holder - the piston 19 will

I move about a fixed differential pressure in the space 17 relative to the I

I restore the atmosphere. I

Furthermore, FIG. 2 the beverage dispensing opening I included in the valve assembly

13 which is closed by the valve 11, which is spring-loaded against spring 44 against the I

The seat of the valve is pressed into its closed state. The upper end of I

The riser 30 is connected to the valve assembly 7. I

As is apparent from FIG. 2, the valve assembly 7 is via a resilient locking latch 42 I

I connected to a flanged edge of the lid of the holder 9. In this way the I

Plastic valve assembly 7 can be quickly assembled with the holder 9 before I

Be connected to the filling opening 5 of the holder 1 via thread 43 after I

I filling the container with drink via this filling opening 5. When the drink from the I

I container 1 has been dispensed, and the pressure means from container 9 is at least partially I

I, the container 1 can be returned to the manufacturer, where the I

I assembled unit of valve assembly 7 and pressure medium holder 9 from the holder 1 I

I20 can be detached with a special tool, as shown in FIG. 4. After I

I cleaning the container 1, a new valve assembly can be connected to it

I become a full pressure medium container in the refilled container 1

I arranged to close the filling opening 5. I

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the pressure control member 10 passes through the I

The user can be set to provide a desired pressure in the space 17 above the beer

I obtain. For this purpose, the pressure control member 10 comprises a cap 45 which the end wall 40 of I

I forms the upper housing part 39. The cap 45 is connected by thread 46 to the I

I cylindrical peripheral wall of the housing 35 and can tighten the spring pressure on the I

The piston 19 is raised, so that the valve 12 is pumped in further and more pressure is removed from the I

The container 9 is dispensed, so that the pressure increases accordingly. I

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a tool 50 with which the I

I valve assembly 7, connected to the pressure medium holder 9 in filling opening 5 of the I

The filled container can be attached and removed from the empty container. I

I 1023968 * I

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The tool 50 comprises a carrier plate 52 suspended from one axis of rotation 51. The carrier plate comprises a receiving cavity 53 for engaging the drag control member 10 and a cam 54 which falls into the beverage dispensing opening 13. The receiving cavity 10 and cam 54 become an accurate positioning obtained with respect to the pressure control assembly 7 and a moment can be exerted thereon to confirm or release the thread 43.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a container 1, wherein the distance D1 from the beverage dispensing opening 13 of the center line 29 of the container 1 is such that a horizontal part 55 of the dispensing line 27 projects a distance D2 beyond the center line 29, which distance D2 is smaller than the diameter of the container 1, so that in the storage / transport position shown the dispensing line 27 does not protrude with respect to the container, and is thus protected against mechanical damage. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 with a broken line, the dispensing line 27 projects beyond the circumference of the container, because the radial distance D3 from the filling opening 13 to the circumference of the container 1 is smaller than the distance D2 in FIG. 5. By rotating the dispensing line 27 around the vertical line part 56, which is rotatably received in the beverage dispensing opening, the dispensing line can be placed in the dispensing position represented by the broken line. The container 1 in FIG. 5 and the delivery line 27 can be designed, for example, as described in NL-A-1012922 in the name of the applicant.

25 1023968

Claims (18)

A container (1) for carbonated beverage provided with a chamber (2) containing the beverage, a beverage dispensing opening (13) for beverage from the chamber, a pressure medium chamber (9) in fluid communication with the chamber ( 2) for supplying pressure medium to the karna *, which pressure medium chamber has an outflow opening which is closed by a dispensing valve (12) for dispensing pressure medium and a pressure control member (10) connected to the dispensing valve (12) for operating the dispensing valve (12), wherein the pressure regulating member (10) comprises a housing (35) with an end wall (40), a circumferential wall (36) and a piston (19) which is movable in the housing sealingly along the circumferential wall, wherein between a side of the piston facing the end wall (4) and an upper housing part (39) is formed on the end wall (4) and a lower housing part (37) is formed on the piston remote from the end wall I that the dispensing valve (12) is at least partially surrounded, with the piston (19) engaging the delivery and wherein the upper housing part (39) of the housing is in fluid communication with a reference pressure source. I A container according to claim 1, wherein the upper housing part (39) of the pressure control member (10) is in communication with the environment as a reference pressure source. I 20 I Holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a spring element (41) is included between the end wall (40) of the housing I (35) of the pressure control member (10) and the piston (19). I A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure medium chamber (9) is accommodated in the chamber (2) for beverage. I 5. Container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the chamber (2) is provided with an insertion opening (5) for introducing the pressure medium chamber (9) into the chamber (2), which insertion opening is provided with a connecting element, wherein the pressure control member (10) comprises a complementary connecting element (43) for fixing to the connecting element of the chamber. 102396 8 A container according to claim 5, wherein the chamber (2) is provided with an activating member (32) which, upon attachment of a pressure medium sleeve (9) in the chamber (2), engages the pressure medium chamber, whereby the dispensing valve (12) the piston (19) of the pressure control member (10) is pressed 5 7. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the upper housing part (39) comprises a cylindrical wall with a screw thread (46) and a cap (45) which is connected to the cylindrical wall with a complementary screw thread, cap along the cylindrical wall - the volume of the upper housing part is variable to adjust the internal pressure in the container. 8. Container as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein a closing assembly (7) is formed by the pressure control member (10) and the beverage dispensing opening (13) which is closed by a beverage dispensing valve (11) for dispensing the contents of the contents. container, which sealing assembly (7) is sealingly connected in a filling opening (5) for introducing the beverage and the pressure medium chamber (9) into the chamber (2). 8 I Conclusions I 9. Container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the closure assembly (7) forms a cylindrical component A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure medium container (9) comprises pressure medium at a pressure lower than 20 bar, preferably lower than 10 bar. 11. Container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pressure medium container (9) comprises an aerosol container filled with CO2. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the beverage dispensing opening (13) is spaced (D1) from the center line (29) of the chamber (2), wherein a dispensing line (27) is provided which is transverse to the center line of the chamber located outflow part (55) and a part (56) located in the direction of the center line of the chamber and which is rotatably connected to the outflow opening (13), the distance (D1) between the center line and the beverage dispensing opening being such is that in an inactive position, the outflow part (55) lies within a circumference of the container, and that in a relative to. 1023988 I Η I 10 I I the inactive position, rotated release position, the outlet part (55) protrudes outside the circumference of the holder. I An assembly of pressure medium chamber (9), and a pressure control member (10) according to any one of the preceding claims. I 14. Pressure regulator (10) according to one of the preceding claims. I 15. Container (1) for carbonated beverage with a beverage dispensing opening (13) which is closed by a beverage dispensing valve (11), which beverage dispensing opening is II displaced relative to the axis (29) of the container, wherein provided in an II dispensing line (27) with an outflow part II (55) located transversely to the axis of the container and a part (56) located in the direction of the axis of the container and rotatably connected to the outflow opening (13) wherein the distance (D1) between the center line II (29) and the beverage dispensing opening (13) is such that in an inactive position, the II outflow part (55) lies within a circumference of the container, and wherein in a with respect to II of the inactive position, rotated release position, the outflow part (55) protrudes outside the circumference II of the container. I I 20 I 16. Method for manufacturing a container with carbonated beverage, II comprising the steps of: II - filling a container with carbonated beverage via a filling opening II supplying a pressure medium container connected to a pressure control member II according to one of the claims 1 up to and including 13, and II - connection of the pressure control member to the filling opening by means of a II closing tool. I 17. Method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pressure control member is cylindrical with an external screw thread and is connected by rotation to a screw thread of the filling opening. I 1023968 _> _ I τ η A method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein when the pressure control member is attached by the closing tool, the pressure medium chamber is brought into engagement with an activating element in the chamber, so that the valve of the pressure medium chamber is pressed against the piston. 5 1023968